Edmonds-Woodway boys top Lake Stevens 59-38

EDMONDS — Edmonds-Woodway’s 23rd game of the season looked very similar to its previous ones.

The Warriors used their modus operandi — a big third quarter — and a double-double from Travis Bakken to defeat Lake Stevens 59-38 in a 4A district loser-out game Tuesday night at Edmonds-Woodway High School.

“Throughout the whole year the third quarter, in specific, has been our quarter,” said Bakken, who had 16 points and 10 rebounds. “It seems that’s when we’re playing the best.”

With both offenses stalling in the first half, Edmonds-Woodway took a 21-14 lead into the halftime break. The Warriors held Lake Stevens to one basket — a 3-pointer by Devin Stoen with one minute to go until halftime — in the second quarter, but only managed six points of their own.

But in the third quarter Edmonds-Woodway more than doubled its first-half point total, outscoring Lake Stevens 24-8 to take a big lead going into the fourth quarter.

“We talked about energy at halftime,” said Warriors’ head coach Steve Call. “With Devin (Joseph) on the bench with a couple fouls, we struggled to get going. We were really looking to go inside. But it was really about effort and energy in the second half.”

Spearheaded by Joseph — who had 10 points, all in the second half — and Bakken, Edmonds-Woodway defeated the Vikings for the second time this year and got a little revenge for the past couple seasons.

Lake Stevens eliminated the Warriors from the last two district tournaments.

“We knew they were a good team,” said Bakken, a junior. “We couldn’t play lazy. This win was a big deal because Lake Stevens had ended all of my seasons in the past.”

Edmonds-Woodway began the second half with an 8-0 run to start the third quarter. The defense held the Vikings scoreless for two and a half minutes as the Warriors’ began to find some momentum on offense.

“That was a turning point in the game,” Call said. “? We said we’re not done with this season. This is the last time our seniors will be on our home court. We talked about overcoming adversity.”

Luke Langdale, who along with Joseph is one of Edmonds-Woodway’s five seniors, had eight of his 12 points in the third quarter. Senior wing Alex Hull added nine points as the Warriors extended their season by at least one game.

Bakken said that the even though each game could be their last, the Warriors approach each game like it’s business as usual.

“I try not to think of it very much,” Bakken said. “I try to look at it as just another game. It’s definitely in the back of my mind though and it motivates you as the game gets closer.”

Perhaps the most exciting moment of the third quarter came with three minutes left. Bakken jumped up for a rebound, grabbed the ball and slammed it back into the hoop, igniting a celebration amongst the Edmonds-Woodway fans.

And their coach, who was clapping and fist-pumping on the sideline.

“That was fun to see,” Call said.

Bakken added another dunk a couple minutes into the fourth quarter.

Edmonds-Woodway (15-8 overall) moves on to face Mount Vernon, which defeated Monroe 70-53 in the other district loser-out game, for the district’s third seed to regionals. The Warriors won a thriller against Mount Vernon 69-67 on Jan. 4 in the teams’ only meeting this year.

“They’re a good team,” Bakken said. “It was a close, tough game the last time we played. We’re going to have to be solid on defense.”

The win ended an up-and-down season for Lake Stevens (8-15). The Vikings will graduate 83 percent of their team — 10 of the 12 players on their roster — before the 2013-2014 season.